Loading machine



, Sept. 4, .1923.

F. E.SM|TH LOAD-ING MACHINE esmas-sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2l, 1922 Allr. il re j Sept.4,z ,1923,

F. E. SMITH LOADING NuwHINEy 1.922v i 9 SheS-Sheef 2 Filled Sent. 2l.

QM Sv `sept@192.3.- l, Y 1,466,911 F.r E. SMITH LQADINGMAQHINE Filed sept; 21, 1922 I9 sheetsfsheet 4 ko o of@ o on sept. 4, 1923. Y A1,466,917

- F.*E. SMITH I LOADING MCHINE F11-ed sept. 21. 1922 9 sheets-sheet's Y inea-.ses

- vention, shown in Patented Sept. 4, .1923.

' UNITED STATES PATEN'r oFFlcs.

FRANK E. SMITH. 0F SCTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application led' September 21, 1922. Serial No. 589,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Scottdale, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have in' particularly to loading machines adapted to load coal and other mined materials within a mine.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine loader that is capable ofoperation in the comparatively low mines, and one'- that may be adjusted as 4to height.

Another object is to provide a novel form Aof dipper or scoop for handling the material, and novel operating and control mechanism therefor. v Y f Another object is to provide a machine of this class with a caterpillar traction base having va three-point suspension mounting which may be locked to form a four-`point suspension when desired.

A further object is to rovide a loading machine of this class wit an endless conveyer for lconveying the material rearwardly of the'machine.

A still 'further object is to provide a loading machineofthis class having the novel construction, design, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mining machine constructed according to this in position to begin a scooping" operation.

igure 2 is a similar viewA showing the scoop in a raised or dumping position.

F 1 re 3 is a sectional side elevation of the diward portion of the machine on a large scale.

Figure 3n is a similar view of the rear portion of the machine continuing from the ne X-X of Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the forward portion of the machine, taken on the center line of the machine.

consists of two side .plate 16, -The crawler frames are mounted at their rear ends on the Figure 4a is a similar view of the rear portion of the machine, continuing from the line Y--Y of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the forward portion of the machine.

Figure 5a is a similar Vview of the rear portion of the machine continuing from the line W-W of Figure 5.

' sectional elevation.

Figure 6 '1s a cross taken on the line VI-VI of F Figure 7 is a similar view line VII--VII of Figure 5*. Referring particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the structural base fra-me of the machine. A horizontal igure 5.

two track boom 3 extends parallel with f and above the base, and is supported on inclined uprights 4 at each end. The uprights are pivotally secured to the base` 2 taken on the; l' l 'zol and boom 3 so ,aste allow collapsing thereof. s

The boom is held in its raised position by supports or standards 5 adjacent its rear end, which have theirupper ends pivotally secured to the boom and their lower ends secured' in one of a series of adjustment holes 6 in brackets 7 on the base 2. The supports 5 are inclined in a direction opposite to the uprights 4 and have a break joint 8 intermediate their ends adapted to Y -be .released topermit the quick lowering of the boom and adjustment of its height by securing the lower ends of the supports 5 in one of the other holes 6.

TheV base 2 of the machine -is4 provided with caterpillar crawlers, comprising-'crawler chains 10 which are trained around drive sprockets 11 at one end and idler sprockets -12 at the other end. The

sprockets are mounted on stub shafts 14 journaled in the crawler frames. The base or main frame 2 `consists of hollow side girders composed of side plates 15 and top channel 151i which are tied together by a transverse plate 15", cross girder 15e, shaft.

13 and other structural members as is common in the art. The crawler frames are also of hollow girder construction and each plates 16 and a top pivotally shaft 13,

- stationary 'engaged and have a plurality of traction wheels 17 journaled at spaced intervals along their length to provide a traction surface for the ,crawler chains 10. The load received .byl

the main frame or base 2 is transmitted to the crawler frames, and thence through the traction wheels and sprockets to the crawler or caterpillar chains 10 and ground.

The crawler chains are propelled by means of' power applied to drive sprockets 11. Power is transmitted to these sprockets through bevel gears 18--18a and shafts 19. The shafts 19 are connected by gears 2O and 21 and clutches 22 to a shaft 23, and this shaft is in turn connected or geared to the main drive shaft 24 of the machine by gears 25 and 26, the gear 26 being connected to shaft 24 by clutch 27. The shaft 24 receives its power from a motor 28-which is connected to the shaft 24 by a sprocket and chain drive 29. I

ln operation, if both clutches 22 and clutch 27 are engaged, both crawler chains will move in unison. ,If one of the clutches 22 is disengaged, only one of the chains 10 will move and a turning action will `take place. That is,the base will swing around on the chain.k The clutch 27 will be diswhen the" Vcrawlers are desired to remain stationary while the motor 28 operates the other parts of the mechanism.

A dipper B having upwardly ext-ending 'arms 31 on each side thereof is mounted to `ride on the boom'3. An axle or cross shaft 32 is journaled in the upper Vends of the arms 31`and has wheels 33 journaled on its outer ends which aremountedto ride between the flanges or tracksl 34-35 of the boom. The dipper or scoop bucket comprises a body portion composed of bottom 36 having teeth 36a on' its front edge, sides 37, of which v he arms 31 are an integral part, and a back composed of discharge doors 38 and 39. The sides 37 are tied together by a cross shaft 37a which serves 'to stiften the dipper..

The dipperor scoop bucket B is adapted to be reciprocated or moved into and out of the material to be loaded by rams 40--40 which are -pivotally mounted on each side of the dipper and extend rearwardly therefrom. The rear ends of the rams are bent downwardly to provide engaging hook por tions 41 which engage between the links of ram feed chains 42. The chains 42 are prevented from sagging by angles 42a and are trained around drive sprockets 43 on ram drive shaft 44, journaled in bearings 45 on the base 2, and around idler sprockets 46 journaled in brackets 47 secured to the base 2. The shaft 44 receives its power from the shaft 24 through clutch 50 and chain 51, which is trained around sprockets 52 and 53, and the gears 48 and 49. The sprocket 53 isl keyed on a hub extension of the gear 49 which in turn is loosely mounted on the shaft 13 so that the shaft 13 remains stationary. In operation the movement of the rams and dipper will be controlled by the operation of the clutch 50, or bystartiug stopping, and reversing "the motor 28.

Control cables 55 are secured to the upper ends of arms 31 of the dipper and trained rearwardly and wrapped around drums 56 secured on a shaft 57 journaled in the boom. The tension on the cables 55 imparts a torsion to the shaft 57 which tends to rotate this shaft. However, rotation of the shaft is normally prevented by a ratchet 58 and pawl 59. The ratchet 58 is rigidly connected to the right hand drum 56, and the pawl 59 is mounted on a sleeve 60 which is mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 57. The sleeve 60 has a friction clutch connection 61 with a sprocket 62 which is connected to the ram drive shaft by a timing 'chain 63.

The lef-t hand drum 56 has a brake rim portion 64 and a brake band 65 is mounted thereon adapted to h old the shaft`57 stationary. l

The` above construction gives a' positive connection between the ram driving'shaft and the shaft 57. If the brake band 65 is tightened .while 58 and allow the cables 55 to remain stationary and the rams 40-40 to advance. This the timing chain 63 isadvl 7 vancing, pawl 59 will snap over the ratchet 95 f operation will swing the dipper in an arc upward.I If the brake is released while the" rams 40-40 are still advancing, the raised position of the dipper will hold, dueto thev ratchet 58 and `pawl 59. Considering the dipper in a raised position, if the clutch 61 is released, the cable will run freely allowing the dipper to fall, and the falling movement may be controlled by the degree of the release of the clutch. lf the motor is reversed. the direction of travel of the ram `of the dipper, and automatically holds the relative position when once set.

l By this control the operator may move the dipper to any point within its reach. .Thatis. he can advance straight. lower or raise, and advance on an angle. This absolutecontrol of the dipper is very essential and greatly facilitates the loading of coal.

A belt conveyer 67 for receiving the material to be loaded from the dipper and conveying to the rear of the machine is trained over head and tail pulleys 68 and 69,' respectively, mounted on shafts 70 and 71, and su ported intermediate its ends by rollers 7 2. The shaftv 70, carrying the head pulley, is driven by a motor 73 connected to a ahead s countershaft 74 by drive chain 75.

countershaft 7l is provided with a pinion-y gear 76 in mesh With shaft 70.

The conveyer is provided with suitable flights 78 to prevent slipping of the material being conveyed, and suitable shirt boards 79 are arranged along each side of the conveyer to prevent spillage.

As said before, the dipper B is provided with back discharge doors 38 and 39, which a gear 77 on the doors are adapted to be opened when the dipper Iis in a raised position over the conveyer 67. The lower door 38 is hinged to the bottom ofthe dipper by a hinge 80 and is so constructed that when it is released it can swing around the hinge 80 until it is in a plane with the bottom 36. The upper door 39 is keyed to a shaft 8l journaled in the sides 37 of the dipper. The doors 38 and 39 are connected together by levers 82 keyed to shaft 81 and connected to the door 38 by links 83. A locking arm 84 is keyed to the shaft 81 and is adapted to engage a spring pressed latch 85 on one ofthe arms 3l of the dipper. It will thus be seen that the doors are normally locked in closed position. However, when the dipper B is in raised position the load on the doors and the Weight of the doors has a tendency toforce the doors open', so that when the latch 85 is released the doors will automatically open and discharge the material onto the conveyer 67. The latch 85 is adapted 4to be operated by a latch rope 86, which has one endfixed to the forward end of the boom, and is trained over a sheave 87, down and under sheave 88 on the latch, up and around sheave 89, and thence to the rear end of the boom where it is led to a suitable place convenient for the operator.

A three-point equalizing suspension for the crawler -frames is formed due to the mounting of the crawler framed at their rear ends on the fixed shaft 13 and leaving them free at their forward ends. An equalizing shaft 90 is jou'rnaled in suitable bearings in the mainframe or base 2 and is connected to the crawler. frames through pinions 91---91a keyed to the shaft, and meshing with racks or gear segments 92-.93, respectively,

secured to the crawler frames. The gear segments 92 and 93 are on the opposite Side of their respective pinions 90--91. The load is equally distributed on each crawler. Therefore, if one crawler is raised higher than the other, the shaft 90 will be rotated due to the gear and rack connection with thecrawler frame, and thus the other crawler will be forced down a distance equal to the amount the other crawler was raised.

The shaft 90 is provided with brake drums 95 having brake bands 96 thereon, which bands are adapted to be tightened or applied to lock the shaft 90 against rotation when it is desired to form a four-point suspension for the crawler frames. f

Suitable operating levers are indicated for the various clutch brakes and other operating parts. However, these levers'are shown broken away in most views for the sake of clearness. It will be understood, however, that these levers may be in the form of any well known designy commonly used for such purposes. 1

It will be understood that various modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art,tand 'while'I have only shown one preferred form of my invention, I do not wish tobe limited thereto, since v many modifications may 'be made within-the scope of the appended claims.

1. A loading machine comprising a movable base, a horizontally disposed vertically adjustable and collapsible boom above said base, a dipper supported from'said boom and means for actuating said dipper.

2. A loading machine comprising a movabase,'a dipper, arms extending upwardly` from each side of said dipper and movably mounted on said boom, means for movin said'arms in one directionand limiting their movement in the other4 direction tok raise, lower and tilt said dipper, rigid rams pivotally secured to" each side of said dipper and extendingl rearwardly therefrom and means for reciprocating said rams to movesaid dipper-into and out of the material to be loaded. j 4. A loading machine comprising a movable base,'a horizontal boom above said base, a dipper, rigid armsformed inte ral with said dipper extending upwardly rom each side thereof and movably mounted on said boom, means for moving said arms in one direction and limiting their movement in the other direction to raise, lower and tilt said clipper, rams pivotally secured to each side of, said dipper and extending rearwardly therefrom and means for reciprocating of the materialto be loaded.

5. A loading machine comprising a movable base, a horizontal boom above said base, a dipper, rigid arms formed integral with said dipper extending upwardly from each side thereof and movably mounted on said boom, means for moving said armsin one direction and limiting their movement lin i` said rams to move said dipper 1nto and out U' Y upwardly from each side of said dipper' and movably mounted on said boom, rams pivotally secured to each side of said dipper and shaft adjacent the rear forviiard from said 'being-engaged between the links of said `prising a movable base,

vable base,

extending rearwardly therefrom, a drive of said machine, chains trained over sprockets on said shaft and over idler sprockets on a second shaft first shaft, said rams chains *and reciprocated thereby, a cable shaft, drums on said shaft, cables wrapped on said-,drums and secured to said arms to provide means for movin said arms in Aone direction and limiting their movement in the other direction, and driving means connect- -ing said drive shaft .and said cable shaft.

7 A coal loading machine for mines, coma horizontal boom above said base, a dipper, arms extendin upwardly from each side of said dipper and movably mounted on said boom, rams pivotally secured to each side of said dipper and extending rearwardly therefrom, a drive shaft. adjacent the rear of said machine, chains trained over sprockets on said shaft and over idler sprockets on a second shaft forward from said first shaft, said rams being engaged between the links of said chains and reciprocated thereby, a cable shaft, drums on said shaft, cables-wrapped on said drums and secured to said arms to provide means for moving said arms in one direction and limitin their movement inthe other direction, riving means connecting said drive shaft-and said cable shaft, and means for controlling the operation of said cable shaft.

8. A loading machine comprising a mova horizontal boom above said base, a dipper, rigid arms formed integral with said clipper extending upwardly from each side thereof and movably mounted on said boom, means for moving said arms in one direction' and limiting their movement in the Amoving said arms Aconveyer.

lzontally disposed collapsible boom above said'base, supported from said boom'and means for iacchi? other direction to raise, lower and tilt said dpper, rams pivotally secured to each of side of said dipper and extending rearwardly therefrom, and endless drive chains for reciprocating said rams to move said dipper into and out of the material to be loaded, power means for operating the means for moving said arms and said drive chains and controllable by the operator for rendering said power means inoperative as to for moving said arms.

9. A loading machine comprising a movable base, a horizontal boom above said base, a dipper,rigid arms formed integral with said dipper extending upwardly from each side thereof and movably extending upwardly from each side thereof and movably mounted on said boom, control cables for in one direction and limitin their movement in the other direction to raise, lower and'tilt said dipper, rams ivotally secured to each side of said ipper and extending rearwardly therefrom, endless drive chains for reciprocating said rams to move said clipper into and out of the mal terial to be loaded, power means for operating said control cablesandsaid endless drive chains and independent, manually operated means for renderingsaid power means inoperative relative to either said control caendless drive chains.

bles or said 10. In a loading machine having a able base,

an endless conveyor mountedon said base,

a horizontal boom, a dipper'mem ber having V integral upwardly extendingA arms movably supported on' said boom, a

pair of discharge doors secured across the rear endvof said dipper, means for inter- ,linking s'aid doors together to cause unison of movement, means said rdoors in closed position, means controlled by the operator for releasing said doors and means for tilting said dipper to cause the material in the dipper to discharge through' said doors and,r onto said endless 11. A loading machine comprising' a base of the self propelling crawler type, a. horia dipper set my hand. Y

FRANK E. SMITH.

for normally locking vertically' adjustable and :ios 

